Why? Well it is the first series of shots with my new DSLR I'm learning. It was an incredible day with the manatee - I actually got other shots where I like the "behavior" and interaction better, maybe even other shots that tell a better story or have better composition.....But my jaw dropped when I saw the colors in this one. I hope it communicates on all monitors. Plus it is pretty much straight out of the camera. I'm proud of that because I'm just learning..... [d200/16mm/subal dome]

Blue Manatee - haunting, primal, sweet-natured, aesthetic above and beyond - but also "blue" in the sense that his future is uncertain.

It is a "blue" and bittersweet shot. I'm picking it as my best because it captured a uniquely "blue" moment in time.

I spent a couple of days takin pics of these guys and this one really stands out for me. Not the best shot or the most unique subject, but damn i got a sore arm holding the housing vertical for an hour!

Just to be weird: here's a shot housed in a very large dome! I got lucky and the flash and external light balanced, and the 10.5 didn't make John look any weirder than he usually does. Below 1000' on the wall at Cocos:

This is my favorite shot, taken on a not so favorite trip to Roatan. I spent hours photographing these guys, but this expression makes me laugh. I call it Stella! (as in Streetcar Named Desire) It's in the January Scuba Diving magazine.
Cheers,
Marli

Attached Images

Marli Wakeling

www.marliwakeling.comDuct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. ~Carl Zwanzig

Seastar, barnacles and a coral hawkfish on Alcyone. d200, 12-24mm lens @ 24 mm, 1 x SS200 on manual. I like this shot as it is a reminder that there are often things on the dive site other than what you came for...

Since there is already a blenny shot. this is my favorite nudibranch shot of 2006. I like it because the lighting gives it an ethereal glow. Shot with a 1Ds MarkII, Subal housing, 100mm Macro, twin ds 125's.